Devoncast returns with another deep dive into the stories making the headlines across the county this week.

Your podcasters have been out in the pouring rain in Torquay with the police commissioner to hear about her plans to get tough on domestic violence, rural crime and shoplifting as part of an ambitious forward plan, and there’s the last word (for now) on the Exeter Water Lane debate.

In Plymouth there’s a great debate on whether the city needs an elected mayor, and Devoncast’s special guest this week is Janna Sanders, the manager of the Business Improvement District in Tavistock. Janna explains what’s in store for the West Devon market town and what has made the BID a success since it was created there 14 years ago.

It's all in the latest edition of Devoncast, from Radio Exe and the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Exeter’s great divide is one of the main topics for the latest Devoncast.

Special guest is Exeter University student Finn Aston, whose own podcast Town and Gown looks at how the uni helps to shape the city, and lifts the lid of some of the issues it creates.

There’s more on the great hospitals building programme, and how it affects some long-awaited projects across Devon, and there’s a planting programme in the South Hams that is creating something hopeful for the future.

On top of all that, we meet the man who wants to made Exeter the latest place to have an official branch of the party that is seeking to become a new force in British politics.

It's all in the latest edition of Devoncast, from Radio Exe and the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Devon’s devolution is dominating the headlines as we embark on what is going to be a seismic year for local government. 

The new edition of Devoncast hears from one local councillor about his fears for what might happen if devolution puts paid to our district councils. 

Elsewhere, land earmarked for development in Exeter for 20 years looks set to be built on at last, with 1,000 new homes in the pipeline. One of the developers behind the project talks about how it might go. 

The man recruited to help out Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez has resigned five months after taking up the post, and two Plymouth Conservative councillors give us their take on the tree felling saga, Plymouth City Council finances, the airport and the freeport. 

And there’s a spectacular new light and sound show at Exeter Cathedral.

It’s all in the new Devoncast, from Radio Exe and the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The programme is available for LDRS partners to use in full or in part.

Devoncast has everything you need for the festive season in this special edition, looking back at some of the people who have been making the headlines around the county in 2024.

Local Democracy Reporters Guy Henderson, Alison Stephenson and Bradley Gerrard look back through the Devoncasts of the past year to pick out the best bits for this seasonal selection box.

You’ll hear from from MPs starting their new jobs at Westminster after an election night filled with surprises, and there’s an insight into some of the reasons why so much changed in Devon in those momentous few hours..

Torbay’s tourism leader says the bay could be making more of the legacy of its most famous daughter, and an Exeter pioneer talks about how she got started on a nationwide campaign aimed at keeping people safe on a night out.

Stars of Saturday morning television divulge some Christmas secrets and there’s a startling story of unrequited love at the Liberal Democrat party conference.

It’s all in the Christmas and New Year Devoncast.

As we hurtle headlong into the festive season, Devoncast presents a programme of contrasts.

Feelings are running high across rural Devon this week, and Devoncast is there to talk to the key people involved.

Devon’s Farmy Army is on the march, taking tractors to the capital to protest against new tax proposals they say will mean the end for some family businesses.

In West Devon a community is celebrating after winning a fight to keep a thousand-year-old tradition alive.

And we talk to people who fear rural communities will be left out of the loop in the fight for faster internet connections.

Plus, what exactly are your MPs up to in Westminster? We check in on the latest from the locals in among the green benches.

Party season is just around the corner, and along with the celebrations there are warnings that a sinister crime is still widespread.